with thanksgiving,

praise, and in hearing His word; O worship with singing, the Master is here!

He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.  I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice, and to do good in his life.  And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labor, it is the gift of God.   - Ecclesiastes 3:11-13

. . . . . . . .

21 - studying joy

22 - boy teachers

23 - girl students

24 - long distance phone conversations

25 - clean rooms

26 - suprise visits from friends

27 - a girlie that talks more every day

28 - chipotle

29 - a boy who loves his chickens

30 - visitors sharing the gospel with us

. . . . . . .

Care to join the Gratitude Community?

a picture is worth a thousand words. . .

. . .so here are a couple thousand words about January 2010

:)

welcome new friend, zoey kate

thanks grandma!  happy family day, elisa!

we have fond memories as we celebrate your 2nd year with us!

thanks for sharing our day, braden

the piñata was lots of fun, even after it was "broken"

snow buddies

recycling crayons

happy 3rd birthday, elisa!

Seek the LORD, and his strength: seek his face evermore.  Remember his marvelous works that he hath done; his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth;      -Psalm 105:4-5

so, i have this friend. . .

. . .that is holding me accountable for memorizing scripture.  What a blessing to have friendships like this.  Yes.  I fall flat before her.  Yes.  She watches as I pick myself up and ask for more time.  I absolutely cherish my conversations with her.  What encouragement!  I thank God for friendships that help me grow closer to him.

Tonight at Bible Study, we discussed JOY.  In all the studying that I have done, I can only come to one conclusion.  That is this:  to have true JOY is only attainable by having an intimate relationship with my SAVIOR.  So whenever I seek happiness, I am seeking the wrong thing.  Happiness totally depends on circumstances around me.  If I want to have JOY, I only have to seek HIM!

Right now I am praising God for giving me relationships that help me seek HIM more.  I can't be thankful enough for ALL my friends that encourage me in my WALK WITH THE LORD, but especially right now I want to say thank you to my friend for memorizing with me, because. . .

For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.  - Romans 8:6

i could never count them all. . .

. . .so good is God to me!

Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:  -Psalm 147:7

. . . . . . .

9 - evenings of sweet fellowship and singing praises to our creator

10 - cheerful helpers

11 - freedom to travel

12 - friends who encourage

13 - spring

14 - good health

15 - sidewalk chalk

16 - first blooms of the season

17 - humor

18 - clean clothes drying in the sun

19 - hens that like to sit on eggs

20 - healthy food

. . . . . . .

Care to join the Gratitude Community?

woe yut?

This morning I was in the laundry room and I could hear Ethan & Elisa playing.  When I went in the living room to check up on them, Elisa came running up to me.  With much concern she pointed to her baby.

She said, "Bee-bee tich, woe yut!"

Being pretty clueless, I looked at Ethan for help in translation.  He informed me that the baby is sick and throwing up.  (I could HARDLY keep from laughing)

I (with concern of course) said, "That is too bad!  You will have to take really good care of her until she is better."

This is when Ethan informed me that the baby had been outside playing in "goose mud" and apparently she had eaten some.  When she came back in she started throwing up.

Okay, I am really close to loosing it by this time, but to top it all off, when the baby was done throwing up, Elisa picked her up, and Ethan promptly "shut the toilet lid"!  (Put the blue frisby down on the yellow one)

This is when I had to go in the other room.  Really!  How can I get any work done when I have such wonderful entertainment?  (yes, Ethan & Elisa just had a round of the stomach bug)

I loved EVERY bit of this, but once again I am sobered when I remember that

CHILDREN LEARN WHAT THEY LIVE!

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.  And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:  And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.  -Deuteronomy 6:5-7

multitude monday

Yesterday, after hearing about the Reece Family, we had a pretty DULL afternoon and evening.  At times like this, it is easy for me to question God and wonder what his plan is.  

  This morning was busy in preparation for our up-coming communion weekend.  When I got home, I decided to see if there was any news.  I noticed that Ann Voskamp had a new post.  I am always inspired when I read her writings.  She pretty much always has something to say that I need in my life.

Today it was a reminder of HIS LOVE for us.  I was reminded once more that HE is in control and that he CARES for me.  (each one of us)

I want to make it a point in my life to be grateful for ALL the blessings that come my way, and to live a life of Thankfulness.  Hence, I am starting today to take part in

1 - God's many promises

2 - my WONDERFUL husband

3 - tremendous energy in the form of KIDS!

4 - family

5 - sisters in Christ

6 - warm fires in winter

7 - inspiring friends

8 - prayer

. . . . . . .

God IS in control, blessing us daily, and I want to REMEMBER.  I am assured of all this in Ecclesiastes 3:1:

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven

what is knitting?

So. . .my attic is in dire need of cleaning.  I have been working hard, going through everything and sorting out big boxes of trash & finding homes for the "keepers". 

Last night I made it to my "yarn section".  This was fun since I have hardly touched yarn since having children.  I found a row counter that was in 3 pieces. 

I said, "This is when I decided to put the knitting away.  I remember that when my baby boy chewed my row counter off my needles AND chewed it in pieces, that was when I decided that babies and knitting didn't go together." 

At this point, my 4 yr. old son came running over and said, "What is knitting?" 

OOOOOH NOOOO!  I NEVER thought I would have children that asked, "What is knitting?"!!!!  I will definitely have to acquire another time slot in my day!

-Prov. 31:13 : She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with her hands.